Dancers of all ages and experiences will brave the stage in September when TNT Dance Studio Bundaberg celebrates its 30-year anniversary of dance concerts at the Shalom College Performing Arts Precinct.
The family studio has a rich history in the region, originating in 1967 by founder Michele Bates (nee Courtice).
She first created a space for children to dance and sing at a kindergarten when she was just 19 years old and then, when Michele married Kevin, they both established Michele and Kevin Bates Dance Studio.
The local studio has passed through many facets of dance genres over the three decades, including ballroom, disco, rap/break-dancing, excise-a-dance, street dancing, line dancing, tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical, commercial heels and acrobatics.
Located on the corner of Curtis and Water Streets, the studio has been the home of the arts for many people who have passed through its doors.
Renamed TNT Dance Studio in the 1990s, it was time to get serious and coordinate the studio’s first official Dance Concert at the Moncrieff Theatre under the guidance of Pat Crowe, a fellow comrade of the arts and the inaugural Manager of the theatre until 1999.
In 1993, TNT performed its very first concert and, except for COVID restrictions in 2020, has performed each year since.
In 2013 two of Michele’s daughters, Toinette and Couris, took over the family business, operating classes in Bundaberg and the surrounding region.
Dance concert to celebrate three decades
TNT’s 30-year-celebration concert will be a limited-edition event that reflects the authenticity and pure originality of TNT Dance.
Featuring performances from 1993 ‘Tribal Dance’ to the latest edition of Commercial Heels ‘Crush’, representing 2023, TNT is excited to commemorate its anniversary with a collection of performances that have dazzled the audience over 30 years.
The celebratory concert will honour the original ‘Spanish Tap Dance’, ‘Ice Fairies’, ‘Freaks Hip Hop’, ‘Circus Lions’ and ‘School Teacher’s’, just to name a few.
“Not only is TNT enjoying bringing to life performances of the past, but we are also extremely excited to have dancers feature in their celebration concert that studied dance with the studio over the 30 years,” Couris said.
“Ex Michele and Kevin Bates Dance Studio students who have not danced in … years will brave the stage, as well as previous TNT dancers who danced through their primary and high school years at TNT.”
The 30-year celebration concert will also be a milestone celebration for Toinette Walker, who has taught dance to Bundaberg students for 25 years.
Toinette will be moving to the USA with her family at the end of 2023 which makes the anniversary celebration Toinette’s final concert as a dance teacher in Bundaberg and a perfect way for the region to reminisce and commemorate the memorable performances TNT Dance Studio has displayed over 30 years.
The concert will be held at the Shalom Performing Arts Precinct on 8 and 9 September.
Find out more about the group and how to attend on the Facebook page here.
